Time controlled apparatus



Jan. 17, 1961 G. s. WILKINSON TIME CONTROLLED APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1959 ATTORNEYS Jan. 17, 1961 Filed July 2, 1959 G. S. WILKINSON TIME CONTROLLED APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'iFIQQ ATTOR N EYb Jan. 17, 1961 G. s. WILKINSON 2,968,706

TIME CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed July 2, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTOR N EYS TIME CONTROLLED APPARATUS George S. Wilkinson, 2317 Trenton Ave, Hopewell, Va.

Filed July 2, 1959, Ser. No. 824,664

3 Claims. (Cl. Mil-33) The present invention relates to a time controlled apparatus and particularly to a time controlled apparatus for actuating electric circuits.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a time controlled apparatus in which a plurality of circuits may be actuated through a varying time cycle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a time controlled apparatus of the class described above in which the time variance may be adjusted with minute variances.

Another object of the invention is to provide a time controlled apparatus of the class described above in which visible mean-s indicates the conditions of the controlled circuits.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4- of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cam bar removed. from the apparatus; and

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram illustrating the circuits involved in the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 16 indicates generally a time controlled apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

The apparatus 16 includes a generally rectangular container 11 having a top 12 associated therewith. An electrical junction box 13 is secured to one end of the container 11 and has a pair of electric leads 14, 15 extending therefrom to a source of electricity. Fuses 16 are positioned in the junction box 13 and are electrically connected to the leads 14, 15, respectively, for use in the conventional manner.

A generally U-shaped bracket 17 has the central portion thereof secured to a side wall of the container 11 and has a pair of end walls 18, 19 extending peipendicularly outwardly therefrom. A pair of spaced parallel cylindrical guide rods 20, 21 have their opposite ends secured to the end walls 13, 19 of the bracket 17 at the upper edges thereof.

A shaft 22 is journalled centrally of the end walls 18, 19 intermediate the guide rods 20, 21 and spaced substantially therebelow. An electric motor 23 is mounted on the end wall 19 of the bracket 17 and is coupled in driving relation to the shaft 22. The motor 23 is of a rela- Patented Jan. 1?, 119551 tively low speed type with the output shaft thereof operating at approximately 1 revolution per minute. While for purposes of illustration the motor 23 has been designated as having an output speed of 1 revolution per minute, it should be understood that the speed of the motor 23 may be as desired. It should also be understood that the speed of the motor 23 is constant and is controlled by the cycles of the alternating current by means of which it is energized. The motor 23 is connected to the electric leads 14, 15 by means of wires 24, 25 and by leads 26, 27 through the fuses 16.

A micro-switch 28 is secured to the central portion of the bracket 17 intermediate the end walls 18, 19 thereof and has an elongated operating arm 29 which slopes upwardly toward the end wall 18 of the bracket 1'7.

A carriage 30 is positioned between the guide rods 26, 21 and is provided with a plurality of rollers 31 which are arranged to engage upper and lower inner faces of the guide rods 20, 21 to permit the carriage 30 to reciprocate thereon. The carriage 3% has a pair of contacts 32, 33 arranged in spaced relation therein and adapted to be connected by a contact bar 34 mounted in the carriage 33. A shaft 35 is secured to the contact bar 34 and extends perpendicularly downwardly from the lower face of the carriage 30. A head 36 having an anti-friction ball 3'7 mounted in its lower end is carried on the lower end of the shaft 35, for reasons to be assigned. A coil spring 33 encompasses the shaft 35 extending between the carriage 33 and the head 36 to normally maintain the contact bar 34 out of contact with the contacts .32, 33. A wire lead 39 extends from the contact 32 to the wire 24- to connect with the Wire lead 15. A second wire lead extends from the contact 33, as described below.

A tubular bushing 41 is mounted in the top 12 in aligned relation to the carriage 30 and has a control wire 42 slidably mounted therein. The inner end 43 of the control Wire 42 is connected to the carriage 39 by a bolt 44. A pair of bushings 45 are mounted on the top 12 and have a rod 46 slidably mounted therein and arranged parallel to the control wire 42. A coupling 47 is socured to the rod 46 and the control wire 42 so that longitudinal movement of the rod 46 causes longitudinal movement of the control wire 42.

A handle 48 permits the rod 46 to be longitudinally adjusted manually as required. A coupling 49 is mounted on the end of the rod 46 opposite the coupling 47 to permit the rod 46 to be attached to automatic actuating means.

The shaft 22 is normally formed of a dielectric material and has a pair of generally cylindrical cams 5t and 51 removably mounted thereon. The cams 50, 51 have their adjacent inner faces 52, 53 arranged at a substantial angle to the axis of the shaft 22 with the faces 32, 53 being arranged in substantially parallel relation. The anti-friction ball 37 on the head 36 rides against the cam 59, the shaft 22 and the cam 51 as the shaft 22 is revolved, depending upon the position of the carriage 33. With the carriage 30 overlying the outer end of the cam 5d, the head 36 is maintained in raised position so that the contacts 32, 33 will be connected by the contact bar 34 throughout the revolution of the shaft 22. As the carriage 30 is moved toward the cam 51, the sloping face 52 of the cam 50 will permit the head 36 to move downwardly during a portion of the revolution of the shaft 22 so that the contact bar 34 will move out of engagement with the contacts 32, 33 during a part of the revolution of the shaft 22. With the carriage 30 intermediate the cams 50, 51 the contact bar 34 will stay out of contact with the contacts 32, 33 throughout the revolution of the shaft 22. As the carriage 30 moves over the cam 51, the sloping face 53 thereof will permit the contact bar 34 to stay out of engagement with the contacts 32, 33 during a part of the revolution of the shaft 22 and as the carriage 30 moves to the outer end of the cam 51 the contact bar 34 will remain in engagement with the contacts 32, 33 throughout the revolution of the shaft 22/ A cam bar 54 extends laterally from the carriage 30 and is arranged to engage the operating lever 29 of the switch 28 when the carriage 30 overlies the cam 51. When the lever 29 is depressed by the cam bar 54, the switch 23 is open so that no current will flow through the wires 55, 56 extending therefrom. When the carriage 30 overlies the space between the cams 51 and when it overlies the cam 50, the lever 29 is in raised position and the switch 28 is closed so that current can flow between the wires 55, 56.

An electro-magnetic relay 57 is supported on an arm 58 extending outwardly from the end wall 19 of the bracket 11.7. The relay 57 has a magnetic coil 59, one side of which is connected to the wire 40 leading from the contact 33 and the other side of which is connected to the wire 25. A contact bar 60 in the relay 57 is adapted to connect a pair of contacts 61, 62 in one position and a pair of contacts 63, 64 in a second position. The contact 61 is connected to the wire 56 leading from the micro-switch 28 and the contact 62 is connected to the wire 25. The contact 63 is connected to a wire 65 and the contact 64 is connected to the wire 25.

In the use and operation of the invention, the wire leads 14, are connected to a source of electricity so that the motor 23 is energized to turn the shaft 22. A pilot light 66 is connected across the wires, 24, 25 so as to burn Whenever the wire leads 14, 15 are connected to a source of electricity. A green pilot lamp 67 has one side thereof connected to the wire 55 and the opposite side to the wire 24. A red pilot lamp 68 has one side thereof connected to the wire 65 and the opposite side thereof connected to the wire 24.

With the carriage 30 overlying the cylindrical portion of the cam 50 at the outer end thereof, the contact bar 34 will connect the contacts 32, 33 completing a circuit between the wires 39, 40 so as to energize the relay 57 and cause the contact bar 60 to connect the contacts 61, 62 therein. With the carriage 30 overlying the outer end of the cam 50, the arm 29 of the micro-switch 28 is up so that the micro-switch 28 is closed. The contacts 61, 62 being connected and the micro-switch 28 being closed, the green pilot light 67 will burn until the carriage 30 is moved with respect to the cam 50. With the carriage 30 overlying the inner end of the cam 50 so that the sloping inner wall 52 will alternately raise and lower the head 36, alternately connecting and disconnecting the contacts 32, 33, the relay 57 will be caused to be in a position with the contact bar 60 connecting the contacts 61, 62 when the high part of the cam is in engagement with the head 36 and will connect the contacts 63, 65 when the low part of the cam 50 is in engagement with the head 36. With the fluctuation of the relay 57 the green light 67 will burn for a portion of the revolution of the cam 50 and the red light 68 will burn for the remaining portion of the revolution of the cam 50. Obviously, the closer the carriage 30 approaches the inner end of the cam 50 the longer the red light will burn and the shorter the green light will burn.

When the head 36 is positioned intermediate the cams 50, 51 the contacts 32, 33 will remain disconnected and the relay 57 will remain in the position with the contact bar 60 thereof connecting the contacts 63, 64 so that the red light 68 will burn continuously. As the carriage 30 is moved to overlie the cam 51, the bar 54 thereof will depress the arm 29 so as to open the circuit in the microswitch 28. The head 36 when raised by the high portion of the cam 51 will cause the bar 34 to connect the contacts 32, 33 so as to actuate the relay 57 moving the contact bar 60 thereof out of contact with the contacts 63,

- the time and will be out for a portion of the time.

64 and into engagement with the contacts 61, 62. Movement of the contact bar 60 out of engagement with the contacts 63, 64 will break the circuit to the red pilot light 68 and since the micro-switch 28 is open, the green pilot light 67 will not function. In each revolution of the cam 51 when the carriage 30 is arranged in overlying relation thereto, the red light 68 will be lit for a portion of As the carriage 30 is moved to overlie the outer end of the cam 5% beyond the sloping wall 53, the green light 67 and the red light 68 will both continuously remain off.

Electrical devices which are to be actuated by the time controlled apparatus 10 may be connected in parallel with the red pilot light 68 or with the green pilot light 67 and in some instances may be connected with both where more than one circuit is to be controlled.

It can clearly be seen from the foregoing description and drawings that the time controlled apparatus 10 of the instant invention can provide minute adjustments between alternating actuated circuits to permit the actuation of controlled apparatus to be properly timed as required.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A time controlled apparatus comprising a frame, a casing for said frame, an elongated cam shaft journalled in said frame, a synchronous electric motor mounted on said frame in driving relation to said cam shaft for rotating said cam shaft, a pair of spaced parallel rods rigidly secured in said frame in parallel relation to said cam shaft, a carriage comprising a block of insulating material, said block being of generally rectangular shape in cross section, and having the corners thereof cut away, two opposed pairs of rollers mounted on said cutaway corners, each pair of rollers being inclined toward one of said parallel rods, and contacting the upper and lower inner surfaces thereof for longitudinal movement of said carriage on said rods, means comprising a pair of vertically spaced parallel rods one inside and the other outside said casing, means connecting the end of said one rod to said carriage, means exteriorly of said carriage connecting the end of said one rod to one end of said other rod, and means mounting said other rod on the outside of said casing for sliding movement for moving said carriage longitudinally of said rods, an elongated cam member mounted on each end of said cam shaft in longitudinally spaced apart relation, an electric switch in said carriage, and a cam follower mounted on said carriage for engagement with said cams, said cam follower actuating said switch upon rotary movement of said cams.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a microswitch is secured to said frame and means comprising a spring biased ball cam follower on said carriage actuates said microswitch with said carriage overlying one of said cams.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a double pole, double-throw relay switch is mounted on said frame and connected to said switch on said carriage for actuation thereby upon rotary movement of said cams.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,812,897 Owens July 7, 1931 1,964,846 Earnshaw July 3, 1934 2,048,439 Fairchild July 21, 1936 2,502,967 Leathers et al Apr. 4, 1950 2,563,304 Bjork Aug. 7, 1951 2,761,655 Lunden et al Sept. 4, 1956 

